Main
Ryan J. Eckert
Coral reef ecology, mesophotic coral ecosystems, molecular ecology
Education
Ph.D. Student in Integrative Biology
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
expected 2024 - 2019
Advisor: Dr. Joshua Voss
M.Sc. in Biological Sciences
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
2019 - 2017
Thesis: Population genetics and algal symbiont communities of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef
Advisor: Dr. Joshua Voss
B.Sc. in Biological Sciences
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
2009 - 2005
Thesis: Associational resistance and susceptibility in Solanum carolinense
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
FAU, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Ft. Pierce, FL
Present - 2017
Voss Laboratory
Research Specialist
NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks NMS
Galveston, TX
2017 - 2009
Science Division
Research Assistant
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
2009 - 2007
Underwood Laboratory
Teaching Experience
Graduate Teaching Assistant
FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Ft. Pierce, FL
2017
Marine Biodiversity
Guest Lecturer
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Galveston, TX
2014 - 2013
Scientific Diving Field Survey Methods
Instructor
Galveston Independent School District
Galveston, TX
2010
21st Century ACE
Students Mentored
Emily Chei
Link fellowship intern
Assessing population connectivity of the coral Montastraea cavernosa along the northern Florida Reef Tract
N/A
2018
Currently a student at Cornell University
Ashley Reaume
Link fellowship intern
Optimized extraction and amplification of algal symbiont DNA from TRIzol preserved corals
N/A
2017
Currently a graduate student at University of Central Florida
Refereed Publications
9. Population structure of the scleractinian coral, Montastraea cavernosa, in Southeast Florida
Bull Mar Sci (2019). doi:10.5343/bms.2019.0074
N/A
2019
Dodge DL, Studivan MS, Eckert RJ, Chei E, Beal J, Voss JD
8. Populations of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef lack vertical connectivity
Sci Rep (2019). doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43479-x
N/A
2019
Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Citations: 96
h-index: 5
i10-index: 3
7. The Mesoamerican Reef
In: Loya Y., Puglise K.A., Bridge T.C.L. (eds) Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems of the World. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 71–84. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_5
N/A
2019
Gress E, Voss JD, Eckert RJ, Rowlands G, Andradi-Brown DA
6. Coral bleaching and recovery from 2016 to 2017 at East and West Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico
Coral Reefs (2019). doi:10.1007/s00338-019-01788-7
N/A
2019
Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Nuttall MF, Blakeway RD, Sterne TK, Eckert RJ, Schmahl GP
5. Localized coral reef mortality event at East Flower Garden Bank, Gulf of Mexico
Bull Mar Sci (2019). doi:10.5343/bms.2018.0057
N/A
2019
Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Blakeway RD, Sterne TK, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP, Lee MT, MacMillan J, Embesi JA
4. Seasonal variability of carbonate chemistry and decadal changes in waters of a marine sanctuary in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico
Mar Chem (2018). doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2018.07.006
N/A
2018
Hu X, Nuttall MF, Wang H, Yao H, Staryk CJ, McCutcheon MR, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP, Manzello D, Enochs IC, DiMarco S, Barbero L
3. Persistence of coral assemblages at East and West Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico
Coral Reefs (2016). doi:10.1007/s00338-016-1452-x
N/A
2016
Johnston MA, Embesi JA, Eckert RJ, Nuttall MF, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP
2. Rapid invasion of Indo-Pacific lionfishes Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) and P. miles (Bennett, 1828) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico, documented in multiple data sets
BioInvasions Rec (2016). doi:10.3391/bir.2016.5.2.09
N/A
2016
Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Sterne TK, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP
1. Lionfish (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758] and P. miles [Bennett, 1828]) records within mesophotic depth ranges on natural banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico
BioInvasions Rec (2014). doi:10.3391/bir.2014.3.2.09
N/A
2014
Nuttall MF, Johnston MA, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP
Manuscripts in preparation
Depth influences Symbiodiniaceae community variation among Montastraea cavernosa corals on the Belize Barrier Reef
Front Microbiol (in review).
N/A
N/A
Eckert RJ, Reaume AM, Sturm AB, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Spawning of the giant barrel sponge Xestospongia muta at mesophotic depths in the northwest Gulf of Mexico
Marine Biodiversity (in prep).
N/A
N/A
Studivan MS, Eckert RJ, Voss JD
Benthic community composition of mesophotic coral ecosystems in the northwest Gulf of Mexico, with comparisons to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Front Mar Sci (in prep).
N/A
N/A
Voss JD, Studivan MS, Eckert RJ
Presentations
Genetically distinct depth-stratified Montastraea cavernosa coral populations on the Belize Barrier Reef harbor relatively homogenous Symbiodiniaceae communities
48th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting
St. John’s, NL, Canada
2019
Eckert RJ, Reaume A, Voss JD
Oral presentation
Populations of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa lack vertical connectivity on the Belize Barrier Reef
ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting
San Juan, PR.
2019
Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Poster presentation
Affordable and ecologically relevant graduate research on the world’s second largest barrier reef? You better Belize it!
HBOI Science Seminar
Ft. Pierce, FL.
2018
Eckert RJ and Studivan MS
Oral presentation
Connected corals: population genetics of Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef
HBOI Ocean Discovery Center Marine Science Friday
Ft. Pierce, FL.
2018
Eckert RJ
Oral presentation
Breaking point: population genetics reveal a lack of vertical connectivity of Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef
47th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting
Corpus Christi, TX.
2018
Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Oral presentation
Ciguatera fish poisoning in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
66th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Conference
Corpus Christi, TX
2013
Eckert RJ, Loeffler C, Robertson A, Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP
Poster presentation
Associational resistance and susceptibility in Solanum carolinense
Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference
Gainesville, FL.
2009
Eckert RJ, Kim T, Underwood N
Poster presentation
Funding
FAU Presidential Fellowship
$10,000
N/A
2021 - 2019
FAU GPSA Travel Awards
$1,600
N/A
2019 - 2018
FAU Thesis Award
$500
N/A
2018
PADI Foundation Grant
$4,973
N/A
2018
Bess H. Ward Honors Thesis Award
$1,000
N/A
2009
Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholarship
$14,850
N/A
2009 - 2005
Florida State University Freshman Academic Scholarship
$8,000
N/A
2009 - 2005
Florida State University Freshman AP Scholarship
$500
N/A
2005
Awards
Florida Atlantic University Presidential Fellow
N/A
N/A
2021 - 2019
Florida State University Dean’s List
N/A
N/A
2009 - 2006
Florida State University President’s List
N/A
N/A
2005
Certifications
AAUS Scientific Diver
190’, Trimix
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N/A
TDI Technical SCUBA Diver
Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, Trimix 200’
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PADI Trimix Gas Blender
N/A
N/A
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DAN Oxygen delivery, First Aid, and CPR for scuba diving injuries
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USCG Licensed Merchant Mariner
100 GRT
N/A
N/A
USFWS Motorboat Operator Certification Course
N/A
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Sea-Bird Electronics technician
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NOAA Working SCUBA Diver
N/A
N/A
N/A
Membership and Service
International Coral Reef Society
N/A
N/A
2019
HBOI Graduate Student Association
Secretary
Ft. Pierce, FL
2019
Association for the Studies of Limnology and Oceanography
N/A
N/A
2018
Skills
Offshore field research cruise planning, logistics, and execution
N/A
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DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, Gel electrophoresis, NGS library preparation
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Data visualization, CPCe, Primer7, Python, Bash, and R statistical software
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Bioinformatic and multivariate statistical analyses
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Technical SCUBA diving
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Marlinspike, and mooring buoy construction/installation/maintenance
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Setup, operation, and maintenance of oceanographic equipment (Sea-Bird Electronics)
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Operation of Nitrox compressor systems and Trimix blending
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Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop
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References
G.P. Schmahl
Superintendent
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
N/A
- +1 (409) 621–5151
- george.schmahl@noaa.gov